Voters send Olson back to Juneau

In the North Slope and Northwest Arctic Borough election districts, Senate District T went to Democrat incumbent Donny Olson, who won nearly 77 percent of the vote against Republican challenger Allen Minish with 59 of 63 precincts reporting as of press time Wednesday morning.

Benjamin Nageak carried an uncontested house race with 3,074 votes for 96 percent of the vote. Voters turned out in significant numbers with more than 40 percent of them making it to the polls Tuesday night.

A statewide bond proposition that will provide $453 million for transportation projects throughout the state passed, while a proposal for a constitutional convention failed resoundingly. The transportation package of more than 35 projects, including port and harbor projects in the Bristol Bay region.

The bond also includes $6.5 million of the $17 million estimated cost of a controversial 28-mile road from Interior Alaska to Tanana and eventually Nome.